War in the Middle East: Iran says "close" the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon

Iran announced this Saturday, June 20, to once again “close” the strategic Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for the deadly Israeli attacks in Lebanon, without breaking off discussions with a view to a final agreement on the end of the conflict in the Middle East which are due to begin in Switzerland on Sunday.

The central command of the Iranian army announced that “the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to maritime traffic”, a “first measure in response to the violation of commitments by the enemy”. He threatened “other measures” if necessary “to force the enemy to respect its obligations” contracted in the Iranian-American memorandum of understanding signed on Wednesday.

In a first reaction, the American command for the Middle East (Centcom) indicated that its forces remained “vigilant”. According to Centcom, crossings of the Strait of Hormuz continued safely on Saturday, with the passage of 55 merchant ships.

Israel and Hezbollah continue to clash

At the start of the war, Iran blocked this sea route through which some 20% of the world’s hydrocarbons previously transited, causing a surge in oil prices and shortages.

Its reopening constituted one of the key points of the Iranian-American memorandum of understanding, which provides for an end to hostilities in all theaters, including in Lebanon, Tehran having insisted on this last element.

But despite this text, and a new ceasefire announcement on Friday, Israel and the pro-Iranian movement Hezbollah have been clashing for two days in the south of the Cedar country, where Israeli operations left at least 24 dead on Saturday, and 83 the day before.

More than 4,000 dead since the start of the war in Lebanon

Israeli operations in Lebanon have left 4,057 dead since the start of the war between Hezbollah and Israel on March 2, the Lebanese Ministry of Health announced on Saturday.

Israel, which occupies part of the south, said it was targeting Hezbollah positions in retaliation for attacks against its troops. According to the Israeli army, “more than 50 projectiles” were fired by the Shiite organization against its soldiers during the night from Friday to Saturday.

“Hezbollah continues to constantly violate the ceasefire,” Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein accused on X.

“While being committed to the ceasefire, (Hezbollah) will show no tolerance in the face of any Israeli attempt (…) to extend its occupation,” the movement for its part affirmed in a press release. He accused Israel of being “totally responsible” for violations of the truce.

The Israeli ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, assured Friday that Israel was committed to respecting the ceasefire, provided that Hezbollah did the same. “Fear dominates everyone,” Fadi Zayat, a resident of the southern village of Tayr Debba, told AFP.

“We returned to our village a few days ago, with our bags ready in case we had to leave again,” said this 53-year-old laboratory worker. “We are waiting for a serious decision to end this war (…) and get our lives back.”

Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into the war in the Middle East by firing rockets at Israel to avenge the death of Iran’s supreme leader, killed during the American-Israeli strikes on Tehran which sparked the war on February 28.

Technical talks in Switzerland on Sunday

At the same time, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the holding of “technical” discussions between Iranians and Americans on Sunday in Switzerland, in the presence of representatives of Qatar and Pakistan, mediator countries. Islamabad confirmed the holding of these “technical talks” on Sunday in Bürgenstock near Lake Lucerne.

According to Iranian state media, Iranian negotiators left the country on Saturday for Switzerland, where according to US Vice President JD Vance there are already envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in order to “manage some of the technical elements of this negotiation”.

The memorandum of understanding provides for the launch of negotiations lasting 60 days with a view to reaching a final agreement, which will be centered on the Iranian nuclear program. “Preparatory” discussions even began on Saturday between diplomats, according to Berne.

The spokesperson for Iranian diplomacy, Esmaïl Baghaï, nevertheless warned the United States on Saturday that the initial protocol would be “in danger” if its provisions were not applied quickly, another allusion to the situation in Lebanon.

American Vice President JD Vance, after a false start this week, told Fox News on Saturday that he expected to leave “in the coming days” for Switzerland, before Tehran’s announcement on Hormuz.

The Minister of the Interior of Pakistan, the main mediator country, arrived in Iran on Saturday as part of the negotiations.

Original article published on BFMTV.com